Chivalry & Chocolate

by M.J. Gillbright

Dassia Temperton has a secret, well, not a secret so much as a bold, ongoing misunderstanding that she refuses to correct in the kingdom. For years, she's been a woman disguised as a knight… because honestly, have you seen how they get treated? Hot meals. Personal space. Significantly fewer marriage proposals from balding merchants.


Dassia has been living in borrowed armor and even more borrowed confidence, dodging questions and keeping her feelings locked up tighter than a royal vault. But when her captain sends her on a quest to slay a dragon, Dassia meets a chocolate-obsessed dragon with a flair for the dramatic and zero interest in being slain.

What starts as survival becomes something a friendship, a business partnership, and a cozy chocolate shop in a village where nobody asks too many questions.

Etchling has demands (snacks), opinions (many), and a talent for poking directly at Dassia's emotional armor. Add a charming bookshop mage who has the nerve to see right through her, and Dassia’s defenses begin to melt.

But some meltdowns are how hearts grow softer, especially when chocolate is involved.

A heartwarming and humorous cozy fantasy about found family, second chances, and discovering that the bravest thing you can do is let yourself be known. Perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Expected publication March 17, 2026

About the author

Hi! M. J. Gillbright is our shared pen name. We are a husband-and-wife storytelling team who build worlds together (usually fueled by imagination, optimism, and delicious dinners).

We believe the world needs more stories that feel like a warm cup of “everything is going to be okay” with extra marshmallows.

As theme park designers, we’ve spent years crafting immersive experiences and learning that the best stories don’t just entertain… they make you feel like you
belong there!

When we’re not writing, you’ll find us hiking Southern California trails, sending out positive newsletters, and practicing the art of eating good food together (because we firmly believe that snacks are a love language).

Thanks for being here. We're so glad you found us.

Reviews

[Lorraine O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dassia is a young woman who dresses as a knight and trains with the men. This is her way to survive. She grew up in an orphanage and had no family to support her. She uses make up to make it look like she has stubble and stays as far from the men as possible. She volunteers to go and kill the kingdom's last dragon who has been spotted in the outer kingdom. She spends a couple of weeks looking and asking people for any news of the dragon. She happens upon it in a cave she wanders into. Turns out that the dragon is approximately the size of a human man, is female, talks and her scales change all sorts of brilliant colors. But the most amazing thing is that dragons love chocolate. They come up with a way to prove she killed the dragon without actually doing so and Dassia collects the fee and the promotion. As soon as she can, she sneaks away in the middle of the night and they go off and find a welcoming town and open a chocolate shop. It gets better from here so be sure to read on in the book. I will be honest and tell you that there are areas where the dialog strikes as being long winded. I skimmed over it. There are some writing mistakes but they don't amount to a big deal. It is a lloonngg book! So do not even try to read it in one sitting, I did and at 5am realized that I needed sleep. So that tells you it is a page turner because you are curious about what's coming next, not because it's suspenseful. All that being said it is well worth reading. There is no ice cream in their chocolate shop, so I do not know why it is Book 1 in the "Neapolitan Ice Cream ..".I am an ARC reader and I give this book 4*.
Read on 02/13-14/26.

[Pandorica · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — ARC Review: Chivalry & Chocolate

This was such a genuinely fun cozy fantasy read.

Chivalry & Chocolate leans hard into what cozy fantasy does best: warmth, humor, and character-driven storytelling — and it absolutely works. Between dragons, chocolate, and a cast of characters who feel increasingly real as the story progresses, the book strikes a really satisfying balance between comfort and momentum.

The humor is easily one of its strongest elements. The dialogue feels natural and often genuinely funny without becoming over-the-top or forced, which kept the story light even when the plot introduced conflict. And there is conflict — just the right amount. The stakes never become stressful, but they’re meaningful enough that you stay invested.

Where the book really shines, though, is character growth. Watching the characters slowly confront their fears, insecurities, and responsibilities gave the story emotional weight beyond the cozy setting. By the end, they felt earned — not just cute archetypes in a charming world, but people who actually changed.

If you like cozy fantasy that still has movement, heart, and a bit of dragon-assisted chaos (plus a heavy dose of chocolate), this is an easy recommendation.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[AphraJoanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars.

Firstly we meet Dassia, an orphan who is posing as a knight for survival. In order to keep her cover she volunteers to slay the Dragon who is terrorising the outer kingdom. The dragon turns out to be a sassy, style conscious critic, who helps Dassia realise her dream of making chocolate.

This is a very cosy fantasy read, especially for those who are new to the genre. There is plenty of humour and Free indirect speech, blurring the line of who exactly is narrating the story. Much of this book felt like being told a story almost like an urban legend, as opposed to reading it.

I do feel as a downside the book was slightly too long for my liking, and I found this did slow down the pace of the book, I found myself questioning whether this was intentional or not. Another minor issue I had was an overuse of bookish metaphors and smilies. All of them where beautifully written, however they were constant which I personally did not like.

Overall I was happy to round this up to 4 stars, I think this would be perfect for a slightly younger audience, but it was enjoyable none the less. I am looking forward to reading the next books in the series.

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do knights, dragons, mages, and copious amounts of chocolate have in common? Apparently, they all coexist in one of the most delightful cozy fantasies I’ve read in a long time.

This book proudly bills itself as cozy fantasy, and it absolutely delivers, but it also refuses to take itself too seriously. After a steady diet of dark, emotionally devastating fantasy, this felt like opening a window and letting fresh air flood the room. It is charming, lighthearted, and genuinely funny. Also, fair warning: you will be intensely hungry while reading. The chocolate descriptions alone should come with a snack recommendation.

The story follows a woman disguised as a knight, sent to slay a dragon… only to befriend said dragon instead. From there, chaos and hilarity unfold in the best way. Dassia, Quinn, Etchling, and Sir Annotate are the true heart of this story. Their dynamics, personalities, and interactions had me giggling more than once. They feel vibrant and full of life, and their camaraderie carries the book beautifully.

This is not epic fantasy with sprawling maps and intricate political systems, and it does not need to be. The world is simple, warm, and thoughtfully written. The plot is straightforward without being dull, offering a refreshing and joyful adventure that feels like a hug in book form.

If you are looking for something cozy, funny, and deliciously whimsical, this book is a treat.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read an advanced copy of this book. It's a really imaginative, fun sort of book that my pre-teen self would have loved. In this book you'll find dragons, chocolate, orphans, book nerds, magic, a talking bookmark, alternate universes, baby dragons, castles, royalty, baking contests, and more… all the things you might want in a really good fantasy. The characters are super quirky, likable, and endearing. The story is well thought-out, but very long. I feel like it could have been substantially shortened, but that's just me. So, well-written, smooth dialogue (a bit repetitive), and definitely filled with a lot of quirky humor.

For me, this was not a page-turner. I wasn't caught up in the story. I feel like there were a lot of chapters that didn't add to the story, that could have been omitted. It was definitely sweet, and as I already said, filled with humor, but I think it just wasn't the right book for me at this time in my life. (That's on me.) I can say with absolute certainty that if I'd read it somewhere between age 9 to 11, I would have loved it!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book through BookSirens for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Overall the story was enjoyable. I loved Etchling and Dassia, and the whole town of Cozywood Commons. The town was adorable, and I would have loved if even more of the businesses were expanded on.

I only have two small critiques. The pacing as a whole felt rushed- there were so many big events for one book! This could have been stretched to a duology with some more exposition. I also feel like nearly every character had such big personalities (Etchling, Quinn, Bob, the Queen, etc) that the story would benefit from some more realistic character traits.

However, as a whole the story was fun, interesting, and kept my attention. I look forward to reading more from this team!

[Arlo Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was quite the different spin on a chosen one story. Best I've read in a long while to be honest. It was a long arc, but I managed to get through it. I really liked Dassia and Etchling as characters, Quinn too. I was a bit suspicious of Vera. Seemed like it was for good reason… until the big plot twist. That I was not expecting. Definitely caught me offguard.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book. :)

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[GenH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't often give 5 stars for a book but this one I really liked. The writing is good, I think there was only 1 editing error - name mix-up. The story is entertaining and the humour gentle without being contrived, as many books that are supposed to be humerous seem to be.

It is all about friendship, chocolate (of course) and the fun of being foolish and brave.

I received an advance BookSirens review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this book. A cozy cup of tea read filled with lovable characters, truly wonderful banter, sarcastic humour (which I love) and adventure. I read it as an Arc read. It is a great cleanser after reading some of the darker fantasy I enjoy.

[Terena Barkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute book. I loved every bit of it. I loved the relationship dynamic between the main characters. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely cozy fantasy! I really enjoyed it. With dragons, magic, and chocolate, this story is super heartwarming and easy to love.

[Caroline Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute cozy fantasy story. Great vibe. Lots of humor and heart. All the characters were funny in their own ways and I enjoyed every chapter. I’m interested for more in this series!